# NTSB WPR15CA102: Cessna 185 - E, N185NV, Carson City, NV, February 11, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 11, 2015, 15:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: Carson City, NV - Coordinates: 39.193332, -119.737777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1933&lon=-119.7378&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 21, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90716 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15CA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90716/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90716 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA102 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing with a crosswind which resulted in a ground loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 185E, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072816), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 185E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072816), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 185E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072816), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 185E, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072816), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 185E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072816), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that immediately after touchdown he felt a very strong crosswind from the left that kicked the tail to the right. He then added full right rudder and full power in an attempt to go around, however, the torque and P-factor, combined with the wind gust pulled the right wing to the ground. The pilot stated that he subsequently reduced power and aborted the takeoff. With the right wing still in contact with the ground, the airplane rolled off of the runway into some soft mud, which resulted in the airplane spinning around onto its nose, followed by the left wing contacting the ground; the airplane came to rest on its nose and left wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings and associated ailerons, and both elevators. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that immediately after touchdown he felt a very strong crosswind from the left that kicked the tail to the right. He then added full right rudder and full power in an attempt to go around, however, the torque and P-factor, combined with the wind gust pulled the right wing to the ground. The pilot stated that he subsequently reduced power and aborted the takeoff. With the right wing still in contact with the ground, the airplane rolled off of the runway into some soft mud, which resulted in the airplane spinning around onto its nose, followed by the left wing contacting the ground; the airplane came to rest on its nose and left wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings and associated ailerons, and both elevators. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N185NV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185NV), registered now, S/N 185-0984, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185 - E (E) - Registry model: [Cessna 185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185e) (registry code 2072816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 185-0984 - Year built: 1965 - Engines: Continental Motor IO-550-D15B 300 horsepower reciprocating; Continental Motor IO-550-D15B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Andrew T Hoffman - Registered owner: Andrew T Hoffman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 2014, 11 hours before - Departed: A34, Dayton, NV - Destination: CXP, Carson City, CA - Airport: CXP, Carson City Airport, runway 09, 6,101 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 4, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 628 total, 85 in this make and model, 628 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: CXP ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20150211001269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150211001269A), Feb 11, 2015: Cessna 185E, Carson City, NV, Substantial damage. Shortly after touch down the pilot reported a strong left crosswind and a significiant yaw to the right. The pilot noted that the wind sock did not indicate… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 13, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90716. 6.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425071&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Airplane at Accident Site (Photo Courtesy of Carson City Airport Operations) (item 2, .PDF, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425072&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Airplane%20at%20Accident%20Site%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Carson%20City%20Airport%20Operations)-Master.PDF - Stay Centered Safety Alert (item 3, .PDF, 338 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448619&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Stay%20Centered%20Safety%20Alert-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.